Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Rutland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Rutland?

Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Omaha vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,140 in Omaha, NE versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,708 in Omaha, NE and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 24% higher in Omaha, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Omaha, NE

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$908

$893

+2% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$984

$856

+13% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,097

+8% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,437

$1,207

+16% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$230,100

$176,400

+23% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$72,708

$55,000

+24% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

48.5 yr

+13.2 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

57.7%

52.7%

+5.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.3%

32.2%

+8.1 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

14.7 min

+4.9 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

359

487.8

+36% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

3,153.5

3,973.3

+26% in Rutland, VT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.1°F

44.6°F

+6.5°F in Omaha, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.6 in

40.5 in

+9.8 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Rutland, VT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — Metro Transit (Omaha) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

24.4

+84% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$26.07

+30% in Rutland, VT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / VT)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

8.75%

+4.2 pp in VT

Omaha vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Omaha or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Omaha than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Omaha versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Omaha or Rutland?: Omaha is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).